Water-power system.



SQG. PANGHBR.

WATER `PoWER MSTBM.

APPLOATION FILED JULY 17, 1908.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

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INI/EN To-R. .CFa/zz cher B Y A TTORNE Y..

W1 TNESSES use the same, reference r sALA'rnIEL c. FANcnER, or KANSAS crrY, Missouri.

` ws'rnnsrowim sys'rnn.'

specification si Letters Patent.

' p Patented March 9, 19109.'

Appimunn med July 17, 190s. serial No. Manoa To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that `I, SALATH'IEL C. Frm- CHER, a citizen of the United States, residm at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson an State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Water-I )ower Systems; and do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descri tion of the invention, such as will enable ot ers skilled in the art to which it appprtains-to make and eing had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters and iigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a Water power system, and has for its object to provide a system whereby the fall of a river between two oints may be utilized in developing power tor operatin machinery or for other purposes, and w ereby advantage may be taken ofthe natural fall of a river, to develop power otherwise than by the use of an ordinary dam.

It is a well known fact that 'a river, in traveling between two points, follows a circuitous ath, so that insome instances the distance etween the points, when measured by the travel of the stream, is materially greater than the distance measured on a straight line therebetween.

It can readily be seen that, should a well be sunk to a substantial depth below the level of a river and a condult led from its lowest point to and discharged into the river tioned, and suitable mechanicall parts for actuation by the water power, such mechanical parts comprising novel details of structure and combinations which will presentl be fully described and pointed out in the fo lowing claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure I is a vertical sectional view of a water power system constructed according to my invention, illustrating the power wheel and transmission parts,- and the Water level at the intake and out-take points.- Fig. II is i a top plan view of same. Fig. III is a vertical sectional view of the water wheelA and drive shafts, showing the mounting of the latter. i

Referring more in detail to the partsz-L designates the low water level of a river at the oint of intakeL and L the low water level at t e out-take, in a system constructed acsired distance thereabove, preferably above the high water mark of the river (indicated Connectin with the vbottom of well lis a conduit 3, w 'ch is extended a desired distance from the well and is adapted to empty into the river at a considerab lower level than that at the point where t e well is located. x

4 designates cated adjacent to the main well 1, and has an intake conduit 5 extending from its lower point and opening to the river near the low water mark, so that, irrespective ofthe de th of the water in the river, water may fibw therefrom into the distributing well and maintain a like level therein.

6 designates intake pipes which connect the main well 1 and distributing well 4 at a distributer well that is l0- I.

various points between the low and high'` water marks and which are provided with the valves 7 by which the ilow throu heach of said p`pes may be controlled in ependently of the others. f

8 designates a wheel shaft which is preferably squared throughout the greater part of its length and rounded at its lower end to adapt 1t for revolution on a bearing 9 that is supported on the bottom of the well; such shaft being provided with guide members 8 at its upper end to prevent disalinement during its operation.

10 designates the water wheel sup orting and adjusting members which are pre erably verticall arranged screws, having bearings at their ower ends in the pedestals 11 at the bottom of well 1, and are braced at the top by members 12.

13 designates the wheel supporting bracket, the hub of which surrounds the of which are plrovided with .collars 15 which surround and ave Operative connection with the su porting and ad]ust1ng members 10.

16 esignates a water wheel, which mayv be of. any well known ty e, and has a core adapted for vertical `sli lng movement on the shaft 8, but is adapted to hold same when revolved in order that it may revolve such shaft therewith. Rigidly mounted on the upper end of shaft 8 is a gear wheel 17 which meshes with a similar wheel 18 on a horizontal shaft 19, which is ada ted to operate a d amo 20 with which tie shaft is connecte through an ordinary belt and pulley connection 21.

22 designates a worm shaft which is revolubly mounted in bearings 2 3, and has the worms 24 which engage the worm wheels 25 on the screws 10, so that when the shaft is revolved the screws are turned to raise or lower the water wheel throughthe operation of the supporting bracket 13.

While lts' use is not essential, I prefer to provide the wheel 16 with a casing26, -by means of which thewater may be confined until it pours through the wheel so that the full force of the water may be secured.

Inl the plan view I show the w`ell 1 comprising a plurality of compartments, each of which may contain a separate ower wheel and parts the intake pi es 6 being branched to lead to adjoining we chambers.

Presuming the parts to be' constructed and combined as described, and the river to be at its low water mark, the wheel 16 is located at the lower limit of its travel and the bottom intake pi e 6 opened to permit a flow from the distri uter 4 to the well 1.

The intake being open, water flows from the river. through the conduit 5 to the distributer and through pipe 6 to the welll, being discharged over and operating the water wheel. After passing through wheel trol in or 16, the water flows through the conduit 3 to the river at a level considerably lower than that at which it entered the system. i

Should the river rise, the Water at the lower level would back up through conduit 3 into the main well and interfere with the operation of the wheel should the latter remain atits rst ositioxi. To obviate this, I

have rovided t e. mechanism for elevating thel W eel, so that it may always remain above the level of the water in the Welland be free to operate without interference.

Should the intake remain at the same level after' the elevation of the wheel, thel fall would be insuiiicient to operatethe wheel, so I have provided the vertical series of in'- take and rovided for their individual cond)er that a desired fall ma?r be secured for any elevation ofthe whee By providing the intake conduit at the bottom of the distributer, a single intake will be sufficient for any levelof the river,

connection with said screws,

as the water will rise in the distributer as the y river rises.

Having thus described. my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by LettersPatent is :--Y

1. In a water power system, a conduit for conducting water from an upper to a lower p oint of a stream, a water wheel located in said conduit and adapted for vertical adjustment therein, and a plurality of intake conduits arranged at different elevations and adapted for individual control for the purpose set forth.

2. In a water power system, a conduit adapted for conducting water from an upper to a lower point of a stream and comprising a well having an intake port and a discharge conduit opening from the bottom of sald well, and a water wheel located between said intake port and discharge conduit.

v3. In auwater power system, a conduit adapted for conductmg water from an upper t o a lower point of a stream and comprising a well having a plurality of intake ports, one arranged above another, and a dischar e conduit opening from the bottom of said well, a water wheel located in said well between the lowest intake port and said discharge conduit, and means for opening or closing each of said ports independently of the others. y

4. A water power systemrcomprising a main well having connection with an upper stream and lower dischar e conduit o emng to the lower point of sai stream, a tributer well having an intake from the upper point of said stream, a plurality of pipes connecting said `distributer well and said main well at various elevations, means for controlling the flow through each of said pipes independently of the others, and a water wheel located in said main well.

5. In a water power system, a conduit adapted for conducting water from an u per to a lower point of a stream, a vertical s aft adapted for revolution in said conduit, a water wheel operatively connected with said shaft, a bracket located in said conduit and adapted for supporting said wheel, and means for raising and lowering said bracket.

6. In a water power system, a conduit adapted for 'conducting water from an upper to 'a lower vpoint of a stream, screws mounted in said conduit, a bracket having threaded a revo uble shaft located in said conduit, a water wheel supported by said bracket yand adapted for vertical, but not for revoluble movement on said shaft, and means for simultaneously actuatingsaid screws for the purpose set forth.

7. In a water power system, a conduit adapted for conducting water from an upppr .Y

to a lower point of a stream, screws revolu mounted 1n -said conduit, a bracket carried by and adapted for vertical actuation by said screws, a vertical shaft revolubly mounted in said conduit, a water wheel carried by said bracket and adapted for Vertical,` but not for revoluble movement on said-shaft,V and transmitting parts connected with said shaft for the purpose set forth;

8. In a Water power system, a conduit for conductin water from 'an upper to a lower point 0% a stream, screws revolubly mounted in said conduit, a bracket carried by and adapted for Vertical actuation by said screws, a Water Wheel carried b y said bracket and adapted for vertical, but not for revoluble movement on said shaft, a casin surrounding said wheel, means for simu taneously actuating said screws, and a ower transmitting mechanism connected wit said shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof Iv affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.l

SALATHIEL c. 'FANCHER Witnesses:

MYRTLE M. JACKSON, HAROLD E. RICHARDS. 

